Creepy things clogging San Antonio's sewers

Updated 12:05 pm, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Video: Roaches and grease in San Antonio sewer

SAN ANTONIO - It's a dirty job, but someone - or something - has to do it.

Strange objects and creepy animals clog sewer lines in San Antonio, which can cause back-ups and leaks. To combat the unwanted jams, the San Antonio Water System has enlisted the help of small, tractor-looking robots - armed with cameras and mini water hoses that can clear out the objects.

On Tuesday, SAWS tweeted a photo of a Great Plains Rat snake in a sewer line taken by one of the mechanized mini-cars. Other items that have been photographed in the sewer include turtles, rats, roaches, a basketball, a toy car, car parts, grease, baby wipes (to name a few).

See photos and videos of some of these strange objects in the slideshow above.

The sewer lines are typically six to eight inches wide but can be as large as 64 inches, said Anne Hayden, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Many of the items end up in the sewer from being flushed in a toilet or through valve openings throughout the city, she said.

The robotic cameras that can clear the sewer lines were purchased after a $2.6 million settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 where the local agency agreed to make "significant upgrades to reduce overflows from its sewer system."

Photo: SAWS, Courtesy

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Great Plains Rat snake in a San Antonio sewer.

Great Plains Rat snake in a San Antonio sewer.

Photo: SAWS, Courtesy

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Great Plains Rat snake in a San Antonio sewer.

Great Plains Rat snake in a San Antonio sewer.

Photo: SAWS, Courtesy

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A rat in a San Antonio sewer.

A rat in a San Antonio sewer.

Photo: SAWS, Courtesy

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Car

Car

Photo: SAWS, Courtesy

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Basketball in a San Antonio sewer.

Basketball in a San Antonio sewer.

Photo: SAWS, Courtesy

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Turtle in a San Antonio sewer.

Turtle in a San Antonio sewer.

Photo: Courtesy, SAWS

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Roach (top left) and grease in a San Antonio sewer.

Roach (top left) and grease in a San Antonio sewer.

Photo: Courtesy, SAWS

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SAWS robots that take video and clear sewer lines in San Antonio.

SAWS robots that take video and clear sewer lines in San Antonio.

Photo: Courtesy, SAWS

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In 2012, Joe Molina, left, Pape Dawson project manager, San Antonio Water System communication manager Anne Hayden, center, and SAWS inspector Fred Schwartz examine a sewer pipe, part of a 32-mile sewer line SAWS is building. less

In 2012, Joe Molina, left, Pape Dawson project manager, San Antonio Water System communication manager Anne Hayden, center, and SAWS inspector Fred Schwartz examine a sewer pipe, part of a 32-mile sewer line ... more